Bird flu detected in Noxubee County chickens

Highly pathogenic avian influenza – commonly known as bird flu – has been detected in a commercial chicken flock in Noxubee County. 

Birds from the infected flock, which were being raised for meat, have not entered the food system. 

This is the third case of avian influenza uncovered in commercial poultry in Mississippi since the spring of 2023. The virus, which is widespread in wild birds worldwide, has also been detected in migratory waterfowl in multiple areas of Mississippi since November 2024. 

The public health risk associated with avian influenza in birds remains low, and poultry and eggs are safe and sound to eat when they are handled and cooked properly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Poultry and eggs should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill bacteria and viruses. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory notified the Mississippi Board of Animal Health that the poultry tested positive for avian influenza after testing samples from the flock at a laboratory in Mississippi and confirming the samples at a national laboratory in Iowa. 

The area has been quarantined and birds on the property have been killed to prevent spread of the virus.

The Mississippi Board of Animal Health is working with the poultry industry to heighten monitoring of chicken flocks statewide.

There has been one death associated with avian influenza in Louisiana and 70 human cases reported in the United States since 2024. There have been no reported cases in humans in Mississippi. 

Most reported cases have been delicate, and cases generally last from a few days to less than two weeks. Symptoms include eye redness and irritation, fever, cough and a sore throat, though some symptoms can be more severe.